Arizona State Senator: Make Sunday Church Attendance Mandatory

An Arizona state senator has advocated passing a bill requiring mandatory Sunday church attendance.

In a speech on the state Senate floor during a debate over HB2320, which would allow the carrying of firearms in public buildings by those holding a concealed carry permit, Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, said: "Probably we should be debating a bill requiring every American to attend a church of their choice on Sunday."

Story continues below video.

However, she quickly added, "That would never be allowed."

"It is the soul that is corrupt," Allen commented, "and how we get back to a moral rebirth in this country, I don't know, since we are slowly eroding religion at every opportunity that we have."

Allen later told the AZ Capitol Times that it was a "flippant comment," but refused to back off and stuck to her guns while recalling her childhood.

"People prayed. People went to church. I remember on Sundays the stores were closed. The biggest thing is religion was kicked out of our public places, out of our schools."

Sen. Steve Farley, a Democrat from Tucson, told KPHO-TV: "Even if you believe that would stem the moral decay, I think the Constitution makes it very clear that our country is founded on the pillar of separation of church and state."

Allen explained to CNN: "Last night in a very late appropriation meeting, and we were all extremely tired, I made a remark about America is in the need of a moral rebirth. To try to bring back this moral rebirth in our country, to turn our hearts back to good things — that that is some sort of amazing thing for me to have said and that would be offensive to people?

"I can remember it wasn't until high school that I understood there was anything like heroin and drugs. It just wasn't talked about in our society. It was a different time. People prayed. People went to church."

The concealed carry bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 5-3 vote and now goes before the full Senate.

During the hearing, Allen, who favors the bill, said: "People out there breaking the law are not taking the time to get a permit. They just go do it. The people who care about this want to do it right and do go through the trouble of getting a permit," the Arizona Daily Sun reported.